The biggest obstacle, experts say, is that most companies are reluctant to retain or hire older workers.

States could use the money to to help the homes recruit, train and retain workers.

Even with a slowing economy, many businesses are having trouble retaining skilled workers.

But the growing global effort to retain highly educated workers may begin to level the playing field.

The main goal of the program - other than the education of students - is to help the company retain workers.

"They also risk losing valuable mentors who help them retain younger workers," she said.

However, employers wanted to retain workers who had become accustomed to the work; therefore, the rotation principle never became practice.

Because the company retained younger workers, the average age of its work force is 36 - the same as it was 10 years ago.

That is a new problem for companies increasingly in need of retaining experienced workers to operate automated machinery.

To retain workers displaced by changing economic, technological, and political forces.